Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Our grandchildren will hold amazing power in the palm of their hands.Ever consider the massive amounts of data mobile devices will be able to hold in a few decades and the speed at which a user will be able to access them?

Here's a bit of tech-info that will help stir your imagination -- ExtremeTech

Saturday, December 11, 2010

His writing is closely tied to this time of year because of "A Christmas Carol".Here's a favorite passage of mine taken from that classic.It is spoken by Scrooge's nephew and I have paraphrased for the sake of saving some space.Hopefully, my paraphrasing has not sacrificed the important message...

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

The Calm Act will now disallow advertisers to plow you with super-loud commercials during breaks in your favorite show.
You know the ones I mean ---- the super loud commercials that have you reach for your remote with gunslinger speed in order to mute the TV.HURRAY!....there is some progress on Capitol Hill.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

I recently read that gift cards were now the #1 requested gift for the holiday season.Makes sense -- with gift cards you don't worry about having to find the perfect size.You also put a little time into the gift so it's not quite as impersonal as just giving cash.

Here's another plus: many businesses are giving the buyers a little perk when you buy a gift card this season.

Barnes and Noble, Panda Express, Cheesecake Factory, Denny's, and a whole slew of others are offering these perks.Check out a full list of locations and offer details at the BARGAIN BABE website.

Monday, November 29, 2010

In the early times, the trees and animals were always able to talk to one another. They lived close to each other and shared many things; but every year, the cold time came and the birds would fly south to where it remained warm and would return with their families in the spring, when the warm season returned.

One year, as the cold season approached Sparrow was injured. He would not be strong enough to fly to the warm lands with his family by himself, so he made his family fly south to the warm lands without him.

Injured, he knew he would not survive the cold season. So he sought the help the trees. He approached Oak. "Oh, Oak, I am injured, and cannot fly, the cold season approaches, and if I do not find shelter before then, surely I shall die. Please, Oak, let me shelter among your leaves and branches during the cold times, that I may heal and greet my family on their return in the spring."

But Oak was a crusty old tree, and did not relish the idea of having a guest in the cold time, so he told sparrow: "Sparrow, go find somewhere else to spend the cold time. I do not wish you to spend the cold time with me."

And poor Sparrow was hurt in his spirit to be turned away.

So Sparrow went to Maple and asked her. "Maple, I am hurt and not able to fly to the warm lands with my family for the cold season. Please let me shelter among your leaves and branches during the cold time, or surely I will perish. And Maple, though a very sweet tree, did not enjoy the thought of a guest for the cold time and she too, turned Sparrow away. "you,....., you go ask someone else to shelter you, Sparrow. I do not wish you to spend the cold time with me."

And again, hurt in spirit, Sparrow was turned away.

Sparrow went in turn to each of the trees and asked each for shelter in the cold time; and each, and every time, Sparrow was turned away...... until there was no tree left to ask, except Pine.

With no hope left..., but not willing to accept death...., Sparrow approached Pine.

"Pine, I am injured, and not able to fly south to the warm lands with my family. If I do not find shelter before the cold time, I will surely perish. Please...., let me shelter among your leaves and branches during the cold time..."

Pine thought to himself, ("I am the least of the trees, what can I do?") ....but his heart heard Sparrow's plight. "Sparrow... My leaves are tiny... more like needles... my branches are not as many as other trees... but what I have you are welcome to share."

And so, Sparrow spent the cold time with Pine. And when the warm times returned in the spring, Sparrow's family returned also. And Sparrow had healed over the cold time and flew to greet their return..

Creator had seen and heard all that had happened between Sparrow and the Trees. And Creator called a great council of the Trees and spoke to them..., "You, who were given so much......, who had so much, would not share the least of what you had with Sparrow in his need. Because of this.., from this day forward, when the cold time is upon the land, your leaves shall wither and die and blow away."

Creator then spoke to Pine. "Pine, you, who had the least of all the trees, gave so much, have touched my Spirit. When the cold times come, You of all the trees shall keep your leaves they shall remain green through all the seasons for the gift you have given me, through Sparrow."

And that is why, to this day, that when the cold time comes to the land, all the leaves wither, and die, and blow away.... Except for Pine.

Monday, November 22, 2010

I don't do the Black Friday (BF) thing.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is for more important stuff....like doing nothing that takes me far from my couch or the left-over turkey.

However, I have enough people in my life that do the BF ritual to know that it's pretty serious stuff.But, why do things the same old way mom used to on BF?Thumbing through sale ads looking for the best price on the perfect gift is so "yesterday".

Hardcore BFer's rejoice...the tech-world knows what you need and gives it to you.
These apps let you KNOW you're getting the best price while out shopping for that perfect gift.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

George: You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?Billy: Uh-huh. Breakfast is served; lunch is served, dinner...George: No, no, no, no! Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles. Scene from It's a Wonderful Life

The Old Geezer in his great blog recently posed this question to his readers:

Where is one place in the world you would like to visit before you die?

There were many great responses to the question.But, the responses got me asking myself:

Why do many of us never visit the places we want to see?

It's always easy coming up with reasons not to go.The challenge is to come up with reasons that inspire you to start traveling before it's too late.

In your final moments, are your excuses for not going to the places you had wished to visit going to be acceptable to you?

Monday, November 15, 2010

I am a long time fan of Oscar Wilde.
His life, like his work, has always fascinated me.
Has any man and his work been more quotable?

One of his best quotes:I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly.

Narcissistic on the surface, looking deeper one finds a hard truth in that quote.
How well do you know yourself?
To know is not merely to be aware.
You may be "aware" of your many facets.
But, how well do you KNOW them?
How many of those facets are really you?How many of them are just something you created for others?

Do not go through life ignorant of your true self.

Answer the following questions honestly and in writing for the best effect.
Having to write down the answers will prompt you to spend more time thinking about your answers...and yourself.

• What is something I dislike about myself?
• What is something I like about myself?
• What is something I do well?
• What is something I am optimistic about?
• What is something I am pessimistic about?
• What is my most indispensable possession and why?
• What is the best birthday present I could receive?
• What am I most afraid of?
• What always makes me laugh?
• What talents do I have?
• What three words would accurately describe me right now?
• What four things are most important in my life?

Friday, November 12, 2010

In 1975, while riding a moped in Bermuda, a man was accidentally
struck and killed by a taxi. One year later, this man's bother was killed
in the very same way. In fact, he was riding the very same moped.
And to stretch the odds even further, he was struck by the very same
taxi driven by the same driver - and even carrying the very same
passenger!

(Source: Phenomena: A Book of Wonders, John Michell and Robert J. M. Rickard)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

While I don't agree with the entire article, there are some fine points in a recent piece on being your own boss at CNNMoney.com .

The devil is in the details when it comes to owning/running your own business.But, don't let the details scare you.If you know about them before hand, you are much better prepared to handle them.It's when they come up by surprise that trouble can brew.

Here are some highlights from the article I think every entrepreneur should know...

Tips on starting your own business:

The best way to develop your own business is to do it while you still have a job.

Build up as much as you can in cash savings.

Live below your means -- you will have good months and bad months.

Remember, to maintain the same lifestyle as you had with your last salary you will need to earn 33% more.

Friday, October 29, 2010

This weekend signals the beginning of the "Holiday Season" for many of us.Though retails stores will have you believe it started on labor day -- let's use Halloween as the official start for the purpose of this blog.

For many, the upcoming season is a time of joy.But, for others the Holidays are full of stress, remorse, and sadness.

I would like all of us to remember the title of today's blog...but especially anyone feeling down this Holiday Season.

E - Represents EVENTR - Represents RESPONSEO - Represents OUTCOME

If we keep this in our thoughts daily - we could change our lives.By changing our lives one day at a time, we would change so much more -- for the better.

EVENT + RESPONSE = OUTCOME

If you can't control the event, at very least you do control your response.Either way -- you are in charge.

Despite how out-of-control things may appear.Regardless of how helpless you may feel.And though your sadness may seem insurmountable.YOU CONTROL THE OUTCOME OF YOUR SITUATION BY HOW YOU RESPOND TO IT.For better or worse.

I can not take credit for the formula E + R = OI learned it in The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.

Try using the formula, even in seemingly insignificant situations and you will notice how well it works.We really do control our lives by our very perception of daily occurrences.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

There are few books about business that have moved me as much as this one by Mark Henricks.

An entrepreneur had lurked within me for years.

And after reading many books, and after following many schools of thought, and after trying many different avenues in search of my own business…It was finally this book that set my inner-entrepreneur free.

I credit Henricks and his book Not Just a Living with my finding happiness after over a decade of misery in the corporate world…and after two decades in the daily grind of working hard to make other people’s dreams come true.

I plan to review other books via my blog in the future. But, I can speak with certainty that none of my book reviews will cover a book that has so positively influenced my life the way this book has.

Too many books written for would-be entrepreneurs are written from the perspective that if a $50k-a-year salary is good, then $250k a year is better. And if $250k annually is better, then $1million must be great.

WRONG.

This philosophy is not applicable to all entrepreneurs.

Wanting to make a living while still having time for a life is what many of us desire.

Other books want to steer you towards a specific business or industry like MLM, Technology, Robotic engineering, Real Estate.

Hey these are all the hot industries of tomorrow.

Jump on and become the next hot-shot millionaire they shout.

WRONG

What if you aren’t interested in MLM, Technology, real estate, or engineering?

Many people would rather earn a decent living saving animals than making a killing creating the next Microsoft.

Others may prefer to just keep a good standard of living for the rest of their life by giving surfing lessons on some beautiful beach instead of earning six figures annually designing tomorrow’s factories.

While others still, would prefer to have the ability to run a successful business and attend all of their child’s soccer games rather than owning half of the commercial real estate in Manhattan and never being home on weekends.

Sure some entrepreneurs want to become millionaires; others want to be powerful business owners ruling over giant global corporations that employ thousands. And some want to be the hotshot cover on Money Magazine.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

But not all entrepreneurs feel this way.

There are enough books that cater to those future millionaires.

This book is for those who want financial freedom without the stress of working 60+ hours a week.

It is for those that want to own a business and not just own a job.

It is for people who prefer flexibility in their work schedule over corporate power.

But mostly, this book is for people who value time, friends, and family over financials and need help learning how to find what the perfect business is for them.

You will get no information on what the “hot” business is for tomorrow from Not Just a Living.
But, this book will teach you how to find the perfect business for you.

You will not find any get-rich-quick promises in this book.

But, you will learn that being rich has little to do with the figures on your bank statement.

If you are truly interested in working for yourself, give Not Just a Living a chance to change your life.